Egln2 variants and use thereof in preventing or treating thromboembolic disorders and coronary heart diseases

ABSTRACT

The present invention refers to human EGLN2 variants having at position 58 of the amino acid sequence a serine or a leucine and their use in the prevention or treatment of thromboembolic or coronary heart diseases, in particular stroke, prolonged reversible ischemic neurological deficit (PRIND), transitoric ischemic attack (TIA), myocardial infarction and/or early myocardial infarction.

The present invention refers to human EGLN2 variants having at position58 of the amino acid sequence a serine or a leucine and their use in theprevention or treatment of thromboembolic or coronary heart diseases, inparticular stroke, prolonged reversible ischemic neurological deficit(PRIND), transitoric ischemic attack (TIA), myocardial infarction and/orearly myocardial infarction.

EGLN2, due to its HIF prolyl hydroxylase activity also known as prolylhydroxylase domain-containing protein 1 (PHD1), belongs to a group ofclosely related proteins of the Egl-Nine gene family which has aconserved genomic structure consisting of five coding exons. HIF(hypoxia-inducible factor) is a transcriptional regulator that plays akey role in many aspects of oxygen homeostasis but the contribution ofthe EGLN isoforms EGLN1 (PHD1), EGLN2 (PHD2) and EGLN3 (PHD3) to thephysiological regulation of HIF is still uncertain (Appelhoff, R. J. etal. (2004) J. Biol. Chem., 279, 38458-38465, No. 37). It is reportedthat all EGLN isoforms show a differing cell specific and induciblebehaviour, which should allow flexibility in the regulation of the HIFresponse to hypoxia. This would mean that specific pharmacologicalinhibition of a particular EGLN isoenzyme could have the potential forselective modulation of the HIF response that would be useful intherapeutic applications (Appelhoff, R. J. et al. (2004), supra). EGLN2inhibition, for example, should activate the HIF response broadly acrossa range of cell types under resting conditions. In contrast specificinhibition of EGLN3 should selectively augment the response to hypoxiain certain tissues that express high levels of the enzyme (Appelhoff, R.J. et al. (2004), supra). This could open the possibility to treatischemic/hypoxic diseases. Contrary to EGLN2 and EGLN3 not much is knownfor the physiological role of EGLN1.

In order to better understand a potential involvement of EGLN2 in theoccurrence and progression of coronary heart diseases,genotype-phenotype association analyses have been carried out with awell characterized patient group with respect to a variation in theEGLN2 gene in position 470 of the EGLN2 reference sequence publishedunder the reference number NM_(—)053046.2 in accordance with the presentinvention. Different genetic variants of the EGLN2 gene are alreadyknown as SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms).

Surprisingly it has been found that a variation of the nucleotide atposition 470, in particular from cytosine to thymidine of a nucleic acidcoding for the human EGLN2 protein or the amino acid at position 58, inparticular from serine to leucine of the human EGLN2 protein correlateswith the occurrence of thromboembolic and/or coronary heart diseases.

Therefore, a subject matter of the present invention relates to theEGLN2 protein containing an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO:3 and a nucleic acid coding for the EGLN2 protein, in particular anucleic acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 4. Preferentially, thenucleic acids according to the present invention are DNA or RNA,preferably a DNA, in particular a double-stranded DNA. The sequence ofthe nucleic acids can furthermore be characterized in that it has atleast one intron and/or one polyA sequence.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the nucleic acids can be usedfor the preparation of a vector, preferably in the form of a shuttlevector, phagemid, cosmid, expression vector or vector having genetherapy activity. Furthermore, knock-out gene constructs or expressioncassettes can be prepared using the nucleic acids described above. Theexpression vector can be a prokaryotic or a eukaryotic expressionvector. Examples of prokaryotic expression vectors are, for expressionin E. coli, e.g. the vectors pGEM or pUC derivatives, examples ofeukaryotic expression vectors are for expression in Saccharomycescerevisiae, e.g. the vectors p426Met25 or p426GAL1 (Mumberg et al.(1994) Nucl. Acids Res., 22, 5767-5768), for expression in insect cells,e.g. Baculovirus vectors such as disclosed in EP-B1-0 127 839 or EP-B1-0549 721, and for expression in mammalian cells, e.g. the vectors Rc/CMVand Rc/RSV or SV40 vectors, which are all generally obtainable. Ingeneral, the expression vectors also contain promoters suitable for therespective host cell, such as, for example, the trp promoter forexpression in E. coli (see, for example, EP-B1-0 154 133), the Met 25,GAL 1 or ADH2 promoter for expression in yeasts (Russel et al. (1983),J. Biol. Chem. 258, 2674-2682; Mumberg, supra), the Baculoviruspolyhedrin promoter, for expression in insect cells (see, for example,EP-B1-0 127 839). For expression in mammalian cells, for example,suitable promoters are those which allow a constitutive, regulatable,tissue-specific or metabolically specific expression in eukaryoticcells. Regulatable elements according to the present invention arepromoters, activator sequences, enhancers, silencers and/or repressorsequences. Examples of suitable regulatable elements which make possibleconstitutive expression in eukaryotes are promoters which are recognizedby the RNA polymerase III or viral promoters, CMV enhancer, CMV promoter(also see Example 13), SV40 promoter or LTR promoters, e.g. from MMTV(mouse mammary tumour virus; Lee et al. (1981) Nature 214, 228-232) andfurther viral promoter and activator sequences, derived from, forexample, HBV, HCV, HSV, HPV, EBV, HTLV or HIV. Examples of regulatableelements which make possible inducible expression in eukaryotes are thetetracycline operator in combination with a corresponding repressor(Gossen M. et al. (1994) Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 5, 516-20). Examples ofregulatable elements which make possible metabolically specificexpression in eukaryotes are promoters which are preferably regulated byhypoxia.

In order to make possible the introduction of nucleic acids usedaccording to the present invention and thus the expression of thepolypeptide in a eu- or prokaryotic cell by transfection, transformationor infection, the nucleic acid can be present as a plasmid, as part of aviral or non-viral vector. Suitable viral vectors here are particularly:baculoviruses, vaccinia viruses, adenoviruses, adeno-associated virusesand herpesviruses. Suitable non-viral vectors here are particularly:virosomes, liposomes, cationic lipids, or poly-lysine-conjugated DNA.

Examples of vectors having gene therapy activity are virus vectors, forexample adenovirus vectors or retroviral vectors (Lindemann et al.,1997, Mol. Med. 3: 466-76; Springer et al., 1998, Mol. Cell. 2: 549-58).Eukaryotic expression vectors are suitable in isolated form for genetherapy use, as naked DNA can penetrate into skin cells on topicalapplication (Hengge et al., 1996, J. Clin. Invest. 97: 2911-6; Yu etal., 1999, J. Invest. Dermatol. 112: 370-5). Vectors having gene therapyactivity can also be obtained by complexing the nucleic acid usedaccording to the invention with liposomes, since a very hightransfection efficiency, in particular of skin cells, can thus beachieved (Alexander and Akhurst, 1995, Hum. Mol. Genet. 4: 2279-85). Inthe case of lipofection, small unilamellar vesicles are prepared fromcationic lipids by ultrasonic treatment of the liposome suspension. TheDNA is bound ionically to the surface of the liposomes, namely in such aratio that a positive net charge remains and the plasmid DNA iscomplexed to 100% of the liposomes. In addition to the lipid mixturesDOTMA (1,2-dioleyloxypropyl-3-trimethylammonium bromide) and DPOE(dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine) employed by Feigner et al. (1987,supra), meanwhile numerous novel lipid formulations were synthesized andtested for their efficiency in the transfection of various cell lines(Behr, J. P. et al. (1989), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86, 6982-6986;Feigner, J. H. et al. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 2550-2561; Gao, X. &Huang, L. (1991), Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1189, 195-203). Examples oflipid formulations are DOTAPN-[1-(2,3-dioleoyloxy)propyI]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium ethyl-sulphate orDOGS (TRANSFECTAM; diocta-decylamidoglycyl-spermine). Auxiliaries whichincrease the transfer of nucleic acids into the cell can be, forexample, proteins or peptides which are bound to DNA or syntheticpeptide-DNA molecules which make possible the transport of the nucleicacid into the nucleus of the cell (Schwartz et al. (1999) Gene Therapy6, 282; Brandén et al. (1999) Nature Biotech. 17, 784). Auxiliaries alsoinclude molecules which make possible the release of nucleic acids intothe cytoplasm of the cell (Planck et al. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269,12918; Kichler et al. (1997) Bioconj. Chem. 8, 213) or, for example,liposomes (Uhlmann and Peymann (1990) supra). Another particularlysuitable form of gene therapy vectors can be obtained by applying thenucleic acid used according to the invention to gold particles andshooting these into tissue, preferably into the skin, or cells with theaid of the so-called gene gun (Example 13; Wang et al., 1999, J. Invest.Dermatol., 112: 775-81, Tuting et al., 1998, J. Invest. Dermatol. 111:183-8).

For gene therapy use of the nucleic acid described above, it is alsoadvantageous if the part of the nucleic acid which codes for thepolypeptide contains one or more non-coding sequences including intronsequences, preferably between promoter and the start codon of thepolypeptide, and/or a polyA sequence, in particular the naturallyoccurring polyA sequence or an SV40 virus polyA sequence, especially atthe 3′ end of the gene, as a stabilization of the mRNA can be achievedthereby (Jackson, R. J. (1993) Cell 74, 9-14 and Palmiter, R. D. et al.(1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88, 478-482).

Knock-out gene constructs are known to the person skilled in the art,for example, from the U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,122; U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,765;U.S. Pat. No. 5,583,278 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,825.

The present invention further relates to a host cell which istransformed using a vector according to the invention or a knock-outgene construct. Host cells can be either prokaryotic or eukaryoticcells, examples of prokaryotic host cells are E. coli and examples ofeukaryotic cells are Saccharomyces cerevisiae or insect cells. Aparticularly preferred transformed host cell is a transgenic embryonicnon-human stem cell, which is characterized in that it comprises aknock-out gene construct according to the invention or an expressioncassette according to the invention. Processes for the transformation ofhost cells and/or stem cells are well known to the person skilled in theart and include, for example, electroporation or microinjection.

Another subject matter of the present invention refers to a transgenicanimal containing a nucleic acid or a vector according to the presentinvention.

Processes for the preparation of transgenic animals, in particular ofthe mouse, are likewise known to the person skilled in the art from DE196 25 049 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,866; U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,122; U.S.Pat. No. 5,698,765; U.S. Pat. No. 5,583,278 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,825and include transgenic animals which can be produced, for example, bymeans of direct injection of expression vectors (see above) into embryosor spermatocytes or by means of the transfection of expression vectorsinto embryonic stem cells (Polites and Pinkert: DNA Microinjection andTransgenic Animal Production, page 15 to 68 in Pinkert, 1994: Transgenicanimal technology: a laboratory handbook, Academic Press, London, UK;Houdebine, 1997, Harwood Academic Publishers, Amsterdam, TheNetherlands; Doetschman: Gene Transfer in Embryonic Stem Cells, page 115to 146 in Pinkert, 1994, supra; Wood: Retrovirus-Mediated Gene Transfer,page 147 to 176 in Pinkert, 1994, supra; Monastersky: Gene TransferTechnology; Alternative Techniques and Applications, page 177 to 220 inPinkert, 1994, supra). If nucleic acids used according to the inventionare integrated into so-called targeting vectors (Pinkert, 1994, supra),it is possible after transfection of embryonic stem cells and homologousrecombination, for example, to generate knock-out mice which, ingeneral, as heterozygous mice, show decreased expression of the nucleicacid, while homozygous mice no longer exhibit expression of the nucleicacid. Transgenic and knock-out cells or animals produced in this way canalso be used for the screening and for the identification ofpharmacologically active substances vectors having gene therapyactivity.

Another subject matter of the present invention refers to an antibodyspecifically binding the EGLN2 protein containing an amino acid sequenceaccording to SEQ ID NO: 3.

According to the present invention the term “specifically” means thatthe antibody binds to the EGLN2 protein containing an amino acidsequence according to SEQ ID NO: 3 but essentially not to the EGLN2protein containing an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 2,i.e. the antibody is suitable to differentiate between an EGLN2 proteinhaving a serine at position 58 and an EGLN2 protein having a leucine atposition 58.

This antibody is either polyclonal or monoclonal, preferably it is amonoclonal antibody. The term antibody is understood according to thepresent invention as also meaning antibodies or antigen-binding partsthereof prepared by genetic engineering and optionally modified, suchas, for example, chimeric antibodies, humanized antibodies,multifunctional antibodies, bi- or oligospecific antibodies,single-stranded antibodies, F(ab) or F(ab)₂ fragments (see, for example,EP-B1-0 368 684, U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567, U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,397, WO88/01649, WO 93/06213, WO 98/24884).

The process to produce antibodies is carried out according to methodsgenerally known to the person skilled in the art e.g. by immunizing amammal, for example a rabbit, with the polypeptide described above orthe mentioned parts thereof, if appropriate in the presence of, forexample, Freund's adjuvant and/or aluminium hydroxide gels (see, forexample, Diamond, B. A. et al. (1981) The New England Journal ofMedicine, 1344-1349). The polyclonal antibodies formed in the animal asa result of an immunological reaction can then be easily isolated fromthe blood according to generally known methods and purified, forexample, by means of column chromatography. Monoclonal antibodies can beproduced, for example, according to the known method of Winter &Milstein (Winter, G. & Milstein, C. (1991) Nature, 349, 293-299).Recombinant antibodies can be produced as disclosed in the patentpublications specified above.

Another subject matter of the present invention refers to a method forproducing the EGLN2 protein containing an amino acid sequence accordingto SEQ ID NO: 3, wherein a cell as specified above is cultivated in asuitable culture medium and optionally the EGLN2 protein is isolatedfrom the cell or the culture medium.

The EGLN2 protein is prepared, for example, by expression of the nucleicacid described above in a suitable expression system, as alreadyexplained above, according to the methods generally known to the personskilled in the art. Suitable host cells are, for example, the E. colistrains DHS, HB101 or BL21, the yeast strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae,the insect cell line Lepidoptera, e.g. from Spodoptera frugiperda, orthe animal cells COS, Vero, 293, HaCaT, and HeLa, which are allgenerally obtainable. The EGLN2 protein can also be part of a fusionprotein. Fusion proteins are prepared here as explained above whichcontain the polypeptides described above as, the fusion proteinsthemselves already having the function of a polypeptide as describedabove or the specific function being functionally active only aftercleavage of the fusion portion. Especially included here are fusionproteins having a proportion of about 1-300, preferably about 1-200, inparticular about 1-100, especially about 1-50, foreign amino acids.Examples of such peptide sequences are prokaryotic peptide sequences,which can be derived, for example, from the galactosidase of E. coli.Furthermore, viral peptide sequences, such as, for example, of thebacteriophage M13 can also be used in order thus to produce fusionproteins for the phage display process known to the person skilled inthe art. Further preferred examples of peptide sequences for fusionproteins are peptides, that facilitate easier detection of the fusionproteins, these are, for example, “Green-Fluorescent-protein” orvariants thereof.

For the isolation and/or purification of the proteins described above(a) further polypeptide(s) (tag) can be attached. Suitable protein tagsallow, for example, high-affinity absorption to a matrix, stringentwashing with suitable buffers without eluting the complex to anoticeable extent and subsequently targeted elution of the absorbedcomplex. Examples of the protein tags known to the person skilled in theart are a (His)₆ tag, a Myc tag, a FLAG tag, a haemaglutinin tag,glutathione transferase (GST) tag, intein having an affinitychitin-binding tag or maltose-binding protein (MBP) tag. These proteintags can be situated N- or C-terminally and/or internally.

A further subject matter of the present invention refers to a method ofscreening a modulator of an EGLN2 protein, wherein the method comprisesthe steps of:

-   -   (a) providing the EGLN2 protein or the nucleic acid coding for        the EGLN2 protein,    -   (b) providing a test compound, and    -   (c) measuring or detecting the influence of the test compound on        the EGLN2 protein or the EGLN2 gene.

In general, the EGLN2 protein or the nucleic acid coding for the EGLN2protein is provided e.g. in an assay system and brought directly orindirectly into contact with a test compound, in particular abiochemical or chemical test compound, e.g. in the form of a chemicalcompound library. Then, the influence of the test compound on the EGLN2protein or the nucleic acid coding for the EGLN2 protein is measured ordetected. Thereafter, suitable modulators, e.g. activators orinhibitors, can be analyzed and/or isolated. For the screening ofchemical compound libraries, the use of high-throughput assays arepreferred which are known to the skilled person or which arecommercially available.

According to the present invention the term “chemical compound library”refers to a plurality of chemical compounds that have been assembledfrom any of multiple sources, including chemically synthesized moleculesand natural products, or that have been generated by combinatorialchemistry techniques.

In general, the influence of the test compound on EGLN2 or the EGLN2gene is measured or detected in a heterogeneous or homogeneous assay. Asused herein, a heterogeneous assay is an assay which includes one ormore washing steps, whereas in a homogeneous assay such washing stepsare not necessary. The reagents and compounds are only mixed andmeasured.

Suitable functional assays may be based on the gene expression of EGLN2,the direct activation or inhibition of EGLN2. In the presence of abiochemical or chemical compound to be tested as a modulator of EGLN2gene expression, the direct activation or inhibition or the complexformation with other proteins, e.g. cellular proteins, can be measuresby means generally known to a skilled person or as described inAppelhoff, R. J. et al. (2004), supra and/or Jaakkola, P. et al. (2001)Science, 292, 468-472, No. 5516.

For example, the prolyl hydroxylase activity can be measured by massspectrometric analysis whereby the oxidization of Pro, e.g. Pro⁵⁶⁴ ofthe prolyl hydroxylase or of the HIF-1α subunit can be detected, or byenzymatic assays known to a person skilled in the art, e.g. in an invitro test assay and/or an in vitro whole cell test assay with humancells, animal cells, bacterial cells or yeast cells.

The solid phase-bound polypeptides can also be part of an array. Methodsfor preparing such arrays using solid phase chemistry and photolabileprotecting groups are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No.5,744,305. These arrays can also be brought into contact with testcompound or compound libraries and tested for interaction, for examplebinding or changing conformation.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the method is carriedout using whole cells. Usually cells growing at the bottom of multiwellplates are fixed and permeabilized, blocked and incubated with e.g. aprimary (P)-specific antibody against the substrate of interest. Then,e.g. Europium labelled or HRP conjugated secondary antibodies inconjunction with specific chemiluminescent or colorimetric substances,e.g. as described above, are utilized to generate the signal. Incombination with the use of a microscope not only the amount of(P)-specific antibodies can be quantified on the single cell level, butalso phosphorylation-induced translocations of a substrate ormorphological changes of the cells.

Advantageously the method of the present invention is carried out in arobotics system e.g. including robotic plating and a robotic liquidtransfer system, e.g. using microfluidics, i.e. channelled structured.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the method is carriedout in form of a high-through put screening system. In such a systemadvantageously the screening method is automated and miniaturized, inparticular it uses miniaturized wells and microfluidics controlled by aroboter.

Another subject matter of the present invention refers to the use of anEGLN2 protein containing an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO:2 or 3 or of an nucleic acid coding for the EGLN2 protein for theproduction of a medicament for the prevention or treatment ofthromboembolic and/or coronary heart diseases. Particularly thethromboembolic disease is stroke, prolonged reversible ischemicneurological deficit (PRIND) and/or transitoric ischemic attack (TIA).Further, the coronary heart disease is particularly a myocardialinfarction. Specifically, the EGLN2 protein containing an amino acidsequence according to SEQ ID NO: 3 or an nucleic acid coding for theEGLN2 protein is used for the production of a medicament for theprevention or treatment of stroke, PRIND and/or TIA and the EGLN2protein containing an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 2 oran nucleic acid coding for the EGLN2 protein is used for the productionof a medicament for the prevention or treatment of myocardialinfarction, in particular early myocardial infarction.

In detail, if the nucleotide at position 470 is thymidine in thechromosomal DNA or uracile in the mRNA or the amino acid at position 58is leucine there exists a higher risk of stroke, PRIND and/or TIA. If,however, the nucleotide at position 470 is cytidine or the amino acid atposition 58 is serine there exists a higher risk for a myocardialinfarction, in particular early myocardial infarction.

According to the present invention, the term “EGLN2-C470C” refers to thegroup of persons which have cytidine on both alleles of the gene codingfor EGLN2 at position 470 of the reference sequence NM_(—)053046.2 whichleads to the amino acid serine at position 58 of the correspondingprotein. These persons are homozygous with respect to this EGLN2variant. Consequently, the term “EGLN2-C470T” refers to the group ofpersons which have cytidine on one allele of the gene coding for EGLN2which leads to serine at position 58 of the corresponding protein andthymidine on the other allele of the gene coding for EGLN2 which leadsto leucine at position 58 of the corresponding protein. These personsare heterozygous with respect to this EGLN2 variant.

The nucleic acid sequence of the reference sequence coding for the humanEGLN2 protein preferably has the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1and the amino acid sequence of the human EGLN2 protein preferably hasthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. However, the present inventionencompasses also other variants of human EGLN2 and the non-humanhomologs thereof, as for example other mammalian EGLN2 homologs or theEGLN2 homologs from Caenorhabdidis elegans, mouse or rat, provided thatthere is a nucleotide exchange from cytidine to thymidine at theposition corresponding to position 470 of said reference sequence and/oran amino acid exchange from serine to leucine at the positioncorresponding to position 58 of said reference sequence and furtherprovided that the corresponding protein has a prolyl hydroxylaseactivity, in particular a HIF prolyl hydroxylase activity. Said enzymeactivity can be measured for example by mass spectrometric analysis asalready explained above.

Generally, the specific nucleotide at position 470 can be determined bya nucleic acid sequencing method, a mass spectrometric analysis of thenucleic acid, a hybridisation method and/or an amplification method.Examples of a nucleic acid sequencing method are pyrosequencing and/orsequencing with the help of radioactive and/or fluorescence labellednucleotides. Examples of the hybridisation method are Southern blotanalysis, Northern blot analysis and/or a hybridisation method on aDNA-microarray. Examples of an amplification method are a TaqMananalysis, a differential RNA display analysis and/or a representationaldifference analysis (Shi M. M. (2002) Am J Pharmacogenomics., 2(3),197-205; Kozian & Kirschbaum (1999) Trends Biotechnol., 17(2), 73-8.)

Furthermore, the amino acid sequence at position 58 can be determined bya method measuring the amount of the specific protein and/or a methodmeasuring the activity of the specific protein. Examples of a method formeasuring the amount of the specific protein are a Western blot analysisand/or an ELISA. Examples for measuring the activity of the specificprotein are an in vitro test assay and/or an in vitro whole cell testassay with human cells, animal cells, bacterial cells or yeast cells,all known to a person skilled in the art.

Examples of a sample for the detection of the respective variant are acell, a tissue or a body fluid, in particular in cellular components ofthe blood, endothelial cells or smooth muscle cells. Preferably thesample is pre-treated by conventional methods known to a person skilledin the art in order to isolate and/or purify the nucleic acids orchromosomal DNA, or the proteins of the sample for the further analysis.

A preferred method for the identification of a variant in accordancewith the present invention contains the following steps:

-   -   (a) isolating a nucleic acid probe, in particular a DNA probe        from a sample, in particular from a cell, tissue, body fluid, a        cellular component of the blood, endothelial cells or smooth        muscle cells, e.g. from a person or patient that should be        investigated;    -   (b) amplifying the specific region encompassing position 470 of        the ENGL2 gene with the help of primers, in particular the        primers as specified in the Examples;    -   (c) sequencing the amplified region; and    -   (d) analysing the sequenced region.

An alternative method for the determination of a variant in accordancewith the present invention contains the following steps:

-   -   (a) isolating the ENGL2 protein from a sample, in particular        from a cell, tissue, body fluid, a cellular component of the        blood, endothelial cells or smooth muscle cells, e.g. from a        person or patient that should be investigated; and    -   (b) determining the amino acid at position 58 of the EGLN2        protein.

More preferred steps are individually or collectively specified in theExamples and are incorporated hereby by reference to each step.

Finally, the subject matter of the present invention refers to a methodfor producing a medicament for the treatment of thromboembolic and/orcoronary heart diseases, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

-   -   (a) carrying out the screening method described above,    -   (b) isolating a measured or detected test compound suitable for        the treatment of a thromboembolic and/or coronary heart        diseases, and    -   (c) formulating the measured or detected test compounds with one        or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or auxiliary        substances.

According to step (c) of the above method the detected test compound isusually formulated with one or more pharmaceutically acceptableadditives or auxiliary substances, such as physiological buffersolution, e.g. sodium chloride solution, demineralized water,stabilizers, ε-aminocaproic acid or pepstatin A or sequestering agentssuch as EDTA, gel formulations, such as white vaseline, low-viscosityparaffin and/or yellow wax, etc. depending on the kind ofadministration.

Suitable further additives are, for example, detergents, such as, forexample, Triton X-100 or sodium deoxycholate, but also polyols, such as,for example, polyethylene glycol or glycerol, sugars, such as, forexample, sucrose or glucose, zwitterionic compounds, such as, forexample, amino acids such as glycine or in particular taurine or betaineand/or a protein, such as, for example, bovine or human serum albumin.Detergents, polyols and/or zwitterionic compounds are preferred.

The physiological buffer solution preferably has a pH of approx.6.0-8.0, especially a pH of approx. 6.8-7.8, in particular a pH ofapprox. 7.4, and/or an osmolarity of approx. 200-400 milliosmol/liter,preferably of approx. 290-310 milliosmol/liter. The pH of the medicamentis in general adjusted using a suitable organic or inorganic buffer,such as, for example, preferably using a phosphate buffer, tris buffer(tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane), HEPES buffer([4-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazino]-ethanesulphonic acid) or MOPS buffer(3-morpholino-1-propanesulphonic acid). The choice of the respectivebuffer in general depends on the desired buffer molarity. Phosphatebuffer is suitable, for example, for injection and infusion solutions.

The medicament can be administered in a conventional manner, e.g. bymeans of oral dosage forms, such as, for example, tablets or capsules,by means of the mucous membranes, for example the nose or the oralcavity, in the form of dispositories implanted under the skin, by meansof injections, infusions or gels which contain the medicaments accordingto the invention. It is further possible to administer the medicamenttopically and locally in order to treat the particular joint disease asdescribed above, if appropriate, in the form of liposome complexes.

Furthermore, the treatment can be carried out by means of a transdermaltherapeutic system (TTS), which makes possible a temporally controlledrelease of the medicaments. TTS are known for example, from EP 0 944 398A1, EP 0 916 336 A1, EP 0 889 723 A1 or EP 0 852 493 A1.

Injection solutions are in general used if only relatively small amountsof a solution or suspension, for example about 1 to about 20 ml, are tobe administered to the body. Infusion solutions are in general used if alarger amount of a solution or suspension, for example one or morelitres, are to be administered. Since, in contrast to the infusionsolution, only a few millilitres are administered in the case ofinjection solutions, small differences from the pH and from the osmoticpressure of the blood or the tissue fluid in the injection do not makethemselves noticeable or only make themselves noticeable to aninsignificant extent with respect to pain sensation. Dilution of theformulation according to the invention before use is therefore ingeneral not necessary. In the case of the administration of relativelylarge amounts, however, the formulation according to the inventionshould be diluted briefly before administration to such an extent thatan at least approximately isotonic solution is obtained. An example ofan isotonic solution is a 0.9% strength sodium chloride solution. In thecase of infusion, the dilution can be carried out, for example, usingsterile water while the administration can be carried out, for example,via a so-called bypass.

The following Figures, Tables, Sequences and Examples shall explain thepresent invention without limiting the scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows the nucleic acid sequence of the human EGLN2 gene with theNCBI number NM _(—)053046. The primers used for amplification of thegenetic section with the genetic variation C→T at position 470 (boldface) are underlined.

FIG. 2 shows the amino acid sequence of the human EGLN2 derived from thenucleic acid sequence with the NCBI number NM_(—)053046. The amino acidposition 58 in the EGLN2 protein is in bold face.

FIG. 3 shows the amino acid sequence of the human EGLN2 variantcontaining a leucine at position 58. The amino acid position 58 in theEGLN2 protein is in bold face.

FIG. 4 shows the nucleic acid sequence of the human EGLN2 variant genecontaining a threonine at position 470.

FIG. 5 shows the influence of the genotype of EGLN2 at position 470 ofthe reference sequence NM_(—)053042.2, leading to amino acid exchangesat position 58 of the EGLN2 protein, on the age of the occurrence ofcoronary heart diseases in the patients group. P-values less than 0.05are statistically relevant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEQUENCES

SEQ ID NO: 1 shows the nucleic acid sequence of the human EGLN2 proteinwith the NCBI number NM_(—)053046.

SEQ ID NO: 2 shows the amino acid sequence of the human EGLN2 derivedfrom the nucleic acid sequence with the NCBI number NM_(—)053046.

SEQ ID NO: 3 shows the amino acid sequence of the human EGLN2 variantcontaining a leucine at position 58.

SEQ IN NO: 4 shows the nucleic acid sequence of the human EGLN2 variantgene containing a threonine at position 470.

SEQ ID NO 5: shows the first primer sequence of nucleotides 444-463 ofthe reference sequence NM_(—)053046.2.

SEQ ID NO 6: shows the second primer sequence of complementary sequenceof bases 504-521 of the reference sequence NM_(—)053046.2.

EXAMPLES

SNP Detection by Sequencing and Analysis

Oligonucleotides (Primers) for Amplification:

The following primers were used for the detection of the nucleotideexchange from C to T at position 470 in the EGLN2 sequence with thereference number NM_(—)053046.2:

Primer 1: 5′-CTGTCCAGGAGTGCCTAGTG-3′ (nucleotides 444-463 of thereference sequence NM_(—)053046.2; SEQ ID NO: 5);

Primer 2: 5′-GGGCTGGCAGTGGTAGAG-3′ (complementary sequence of bases504-521 of the reference sequence NM_(—)053046.2; SEQ ID NO: 6).

PCR Protocol for Amplification:

The reagents used were from Applied Biosystems (Foster City, USA): 20 ngof genomic DNA; 1 unit TaqGold DNA polymerase; 1× Taq polymerase buffer;500 μM dNTPs; 2.5 mM MgCl₂; 200 nM of each amplification primer pair asshown above; H₂O ad 5 μl.

Amplification Program of the PCR for Genotyping:

95° C. for 10 min×1 cycle

95° C. for 30 sec

70° C. for 30 sec×2 cycles;

95° C. for 30 sec

65° C. for 30 sec×2 cycles;

95° C. for 30 sec

60° C. for 30 sec×2 cycles;

95° C. for 30 sec

56° C. for 30 sec

72° C. for 30 sec×40 cycles;

72° C. for 10 min

4° C. for 30 sec×1 cycle;

Protocol for Minisequencinq and Detection of SNPs

The reagents used were from Applied Biosystems (Foster City, USA). 2 μlpurified PCR product, 1.5 μl BigDye-Terminator-Kit, 200 nM of asequencing primer as shown above; H₂O ad 10 μl.

Amplification Program for Sequencing:

96° C. for 2 min×1 cycle;

96° C. for 10 sec

55° C. for 10 sec

65° C. for 4 min×30 cycles;

72° C. for 7 min

4° C. for 30 sec×1 cycle;

Analyse of the Sequencing Products:

The sequences were analysed with the Sequenz Analyse Software (AppliedBiosystems, Foster City, USA) for obtaining preliminary data first, thenprocessed with the software Phred, Phrap, Polyphred und Consed. Phred,Phrap, Polyphred und Consed. written by Phil Green of the WashingtonUniversity.

Results

Characteristics of the Group of Persons

Table 1 shows the characteristics of the group of persons studied.

TABLE 1 n % Total 2074 Sex Female 603 29.07 Male 1471 70.93 Age 61.8(+/−10.5) BMI (Body Mass Index) 29.1 (+/−4.4)  Blood Preasure 1214 58.7Smoker 1372 66.41 Typ II Diabetis 361 17.46 Myocardial infarction 83040.59 Stroke 145 7.01

Frequence and Distribution of the Variants of the EGLN2 Gene

Table 2 shows the frequency and distribution of the genetic variants ofthe EGLN2 gene at position 470 of the reference sequence NM_(—)053046.2in the patient group studied.

TABLE 2 Frequeny Percentage EGNL2-C470C 1253 96.31 (EGNL2 Ser58Ser)EGNL2-C470T 47 3.61 (EGNL2 Ser58Leu) EGNL2-T470T 1 0.08 (EGNL2 Leu58Leu)Missing values 773

In the following only individuals with EGLN2-C470C (EGLN2 Ser58Ser) andEGLN2-C470T (EGLN2 Ser58Leu) are taken into account.

Influence of the Variants of EGLN2 on the Occurrence of Early MyocardialInfarction

Table 3 shows the influence of the genotype of EGLN2 at position 470 ofthe reference sequence NM_(—)053046.2 on the occurrence of earlymyocardial infarction (less than 55 years old for men and less than 60years old for women) and of stroke/PRIND (prolonged reversible ischemicneurological deficit)/TIA (transitoric ischemic attack) in the patientgroup studied. P-values less than 0.05 are statistically relevant.

TABLE 3 EGLN2 C470C/Ser58Ser C470T/Ser58Leu Clinical Parameter n (%) n(%) p-value Patients with early 215 (17.16) 2 (4.26%) 0.0199 myocardialinfarction (<55m/60f) Patients without early 1038 (82.84) 45 (95.74)myocardial infarction (<55m/60f) Patients with 88 (7.23) 7 (14.89)0.0418 Stroke/PRIND/TIA Patients without 1165 (92.77) 40 (85.11)Stroke/PRIND/TIA

Results:

-   -   1. The patients with EGLN2-C470C showed a statistically higher        incidence for early myocardial infarction compared to patients        with EGLN2-C470T.    -   2. The patients with EGLN2-C470T showed a significant increase        of the risk to receive a stroke, PRIND and/or TIA compared with        patients with EGLN2-C470C.

Influence of the Variants of EGLN2 on Patients' Age with Coronary HeartDiseases

FIG. 5 shows the influence of the genotype of EGLN2 at position 470 ofthe reference sequence NM_(—)053042.2 on the age of the occurrence ofcoronary heart diseases in the patients group.

Result:

A significant dependency of the age of the patients with EGLN2-C470C(EGLN2 Ser58Ser) for the early occurrence of coronary heart diseases wasdiscovered compared to the age of patients with EGLN2-C470T (EGLN2Ser58Leu).

CONCLUSION

The statistically significant associations between the genetic variantsof the gene coding for EGLN2 and/or the protein EGLN2 shown above are aclear indication for the involvement of said genetic variants in theoccurrence of thrombotic and/or coronary heart diseases. Consequently,said genetic variants are biological markers for the prognosis ofthrombotic and/or coronary heart diseases, in particular for theprognosis of early myocardial infarction and/or stroke, PRIND and/orTIA.

1. A nucleic acid coding for the EGLN2 protein according to SEQ ID NO:3.
 2. The nucleic acid of claim 1 containing a nucleic acid sequenceaccording to SEQ ID NO:
 4. 3. A vector, preferably an expression vector,containing the nucleic acid according to claim 1 or
 2. 4. A host cellcontaining a nucleic acid according to claim 1 or 2 or containing avector according to claim
 3. 5. A transgenic animal containing a nucleicacid according to claim 1 or 2 or containing a vector according to claim3.
 6. A method for producing the EGLN2 protein according to claim 1,wherein a cell according to claim 4 is cultivated in a suitable culturemedium and optionally the EGLN2 protein is isolated from the cell or theculture medium.